Kaplan City Guide: Dublin

Dublin, Ireland's historic capital, is famous for its picturesque landscapes, friendly locals and remarkable history. We have asked our students to share their tips and favourite places, so you know all the insider hints.

Explore the city by foot

"Public transport is state of the art; there is never a problem and there are plenty of opportunities to reach every corner of the city by bus, tram or taxi. But what is nice about the city is that it is quite small, so you can easily get around by foot."

Tip provided by:

Andrea Paoletti, Italy

Dublin is quite a small city, so the majority of places of interests, hotels and restaurants are located within easy reach from one another. This means you can easily explore the city by foot, which is also a great opportunity to get the real feel for the Irish capital, its spirit and atmosphere. If you still need to use public transport, fear not: our students highlighted how reliable and efficient it is. Firstly, there are 40 bike stations all over the city and 500 public bicycles that you can grab and then return in convenient locations. City busses are frequent and relatively cheap, with prices around 2-3 euros per ticket. They also have free WiFi! Finally, if you want to explore beautiful Dublin suburbs, you can easily do so using Luas, the quick and punctual tram service.

Ireland's intimate capital city is highly walkable!

Enjoy the night out at Temple Bar

"Temple bar is a great place to meet people. This is also where you can get the obligatory Guinness, which is an unmissable part of any stay in Ireland."

Tip provided by:

Maris Oksche, Germany

Going out with new friends that you have made in school is an unmissable part of Kaplan Experience. When looking for some fun, head to Temple Bar, which is a popular touristy area in Central Dublin, famous for its bustling nightlife, trendy bars and cosy pubs with traditional Irish music. In particular, our students recommend River Bar, a pub on the river with relaxed atmosphere and delicious homemade food, where you can watch rugby and football games on large screens or listen to live music later at night. If you feel like dancing, check out the nightclub Howl at the Moon. The place is spread over three floors and offers great a variety of cocktails and nice music. As our student Carlotta pointed out, it’s also very cheap, so ‘absolutely recommended for students’!

The Temple Bar area is world-famous.

Get to know Irish history, art and nature

"I have many favorite places, but I love Phoenix Park, Kilmainham Gaol, and the Irish Museum of Modern Art."

"I recommend a day at the Cliffs of Moher, where you can admire a fantastic view overlooking a 200m cliff by the ocean."

Tips provided by:

Zaira Vasconcelos (Angola) and Andrea Paoletti (Italy)

Despite its small size, the Irish capital is full of fascinating attractions worth paying a visit to. Among others, our students recommend visiting Kilmainham Gaol, a former prison turned into a museum that provides a remarkable insight into the Irish history, politics and struggle for national independence. The Irish Museum of Modern Art holds exciting exhibitions from Irish and international artists and offers free guided tours, educational lectures and talks. Lastly, the Cliffs of Moher, although on the other side of the country from Dublin, are well worth the trip and easily accessible by public transportation. The Cliffs are Ireland’s most visited natural attraction, stretching 8 km along the Atlantic coast and reaching 214 m at the highest point. Breathtaking view from the cliffs attracts over one million of tourists every year; they also appeared in a number of movies, including Harry Potter and the Half-Blood prince.

Cliffs like these are an easy excuse to venture out of the city limits.

Feed deer in Phoenix Park

"There are a lot of beautiful parks! The best park is Phoenix Park, which is a popular park in Dublin. We often go to parks with my friends to enjoy the breeze while riding a bicycle and to feed herds of deer. You can also see various animals such as swans and foxes. I think all parks in Dublin not only make us feel relaxed, but also heal our minds."

Tip provided by:

Jin Jeon, South Korea

As Jin, our student from South Korea, has pointed out, Dublin is famous for its many magnificent parks, which are all free and open to the public. When you feel the need to unwind and get outdoors, head down to city’s favourite Phoenix Park, one of the largest parks in Europe and also home to a herd of wild Fallow deer, which have populated the area since 17th century. If you’re looking for more than just a stroll, pay a visit to Dublin Zoo, the biggest zoo in the country, which is conveniently located in the park. Moreover, Phoenix is a popular performance venue for international musicians. Coldplay, Robbie Williams, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Snoop Dogg, Tinie Tempah and many other famous musicians have performed here over the years. Regular festivals, shows, sports and other events are hosted here on a regular basis, so check out 2016 event calendar, available from the park’s website, to find out what’s available in time for your trip to Dublin.

Get to know the Irish locals – both the people and the animals!

Have you also visited Dublin and want to share your tips? Don't be shy, we're waiting for your comments! Or, if the idea of visiting this amazing city sounds appealing to you, learn how you can study English in Dublin.